October 26, 2011

Review: Among the Living (PsyCop, Book 1) by Jordan Castillo Price

Last week I was doing my usual round of review
blogs when I came upon a review of a series of novellas by several authors
including Jordan Castillo Price. Everyone was gushing about how great her books
were so I decided to give it a try. I fully intended to get the series I read
about (it’s called Petit Morts in case you’re curious) but when I was looking
through Castillo Price’s backlist I saw this one and I just knew I had to read
it. The PsyCop series comprises five novellas that are a bit longer than
regular but not by much, one full-length novel, and five free short stories
that you can read here.

The first story is called Among the Living and
introduces us to the main characters and the world they live in. Victor Bayne
is a high level medium working in the elite PsyCop unit of the Chicago Police
department. Because he can see dead people he’s an obvious asset to murder
investigations. PsyCops work in pairs, one psychic and one non-psychic or
“stiff”. There's a variety of psychic abilities that range from seeing dead
people, to precognition and human lie-detectors, and the fact that these people
exist is known and accepted, but beyond that the world is pretty much the same
as the one are living in.

This story begins with Vic’s former partner’s
retirement party. There he meets Jacob Marks, he’s also a member of the PsyCops
but he’s a stiff. They have barely said two words to each other when they have
sex in the bathroom, but then Vic gets called to a murder scene where he also meets his new partner Lisa. This crime
scene is peculiar because the victim’s ghost is nowhere to be seen, which is
quite unusual because ghosts usually remain in the place they died and Victor,
being a high-level psychic, can always see them. Because this investigation
happens to be more complicated than usual, they end up working along Jacob and
his partner, and that’s when things start to get really interesting.

This series was right up my alley because I
love romantic suspense with a paranormal touch. And these books are exactly
that. Due to the fact that they are narrated by Vic and the whole setting is a bit creepy,
it might seem like they should be a PNR, but to me they were all about the
suspense and the mystery. The paranormal aspect is so well done and so seamlessly
woven into the plot that I had no problem believing it and I actually stopped
noticing it, not because it’s subtle (there are dead guys showing up all the
time) but because it felt real, and I think this was because the characters, and
specially Vic, were down to earth, full of issues and relatable.

Vic is obviously the main character and the
stories always revolve around him. I found him fascinating because he wasn’t a
superhero. He didn’t want an ability that has taken so much from him in terms
of his mental health and his life in general. He is world-weary and drained. When the
story starts Vic’s dealing with depression and addiction, he’s desperate to
find a way to shut up the ghosts and nothing is working. But then he meets
Jacob and he finds a reason to deal with his problems, it’s not an easy road, but
he’s willing to take it.

Jacob, on the other hand, is self-assured and strong.
He knows what he wants and he’s willing to fight for it. The reason they make
such a great couple is because they balance one another. It was obvious for me
how much Jacob cared and respected Vic. This is not the type of relationship
where one of the people involved is possessive and overprotective while the
other is a dormant. Vic was vulnerable but he wasn’t a pushover, Jacob cared
for Vic but he let him do his job. I think this was a very well-balanced
couple, a true partnership.

This is not the most romantic story, Vic and
Jacob are manly men that would rather have hot sex than talk about their
feelings, they don’t say I love you and their relationship develops slowly (although
it is hot and heavy). But despite all that, you can tell how much they mean to
one another, how Vic’s life dramatically changes by having Jacob in it and how
Jacob truly loves Vic. And the ending was very sweet and romantic, at leas in my opinion.

The secondary characters were fantastic. Lisa
was a great partner and a better friend. She also has a difficult road ahead of
her and her story develops throughout the series, so I’m curious to see what
will happen to her.

Finally I must warn you that the main focus of
the novella is the murder investigation, there are a couple of sex scenes that
are scorching hot, there’s a lot of character development, but the main plot is
the murder mystery and not the love story.

This was a very satisfactory read, and although
it ends quite abruptly I had a great time reading it. The author does a great
job at creating the PsyCop world but the beginning is a bit confusing with a lot
of names thrown in there that you won’t really know what they mean until later
on. Vic’s voice is compelling and very likeable, so I think that this is a
story that deserves to be read. My warning is that it’s highly addictive. If
you want to check it out, the first half is online and you can read it for free here.

Victor Bayne,
the psychic half a PsyCop team, is a gay medium who’s more concerned with
flying under the radar than in making waves.

He hooks up
with handsome Jacob Marks, a non-psychic (or “Stiff”) from an adjacent precinct
at his ex-partner’s retirement party and it seems like his dubious luck has
taken a turn for the better. But then a serial killer surfaces who can change
his appearance to match any witness’ idea of the world’s hottest guy.

I don’t know why it took me so long to find these books. They are fun and sexy, I like them. The mystery part is just as engaging as the romance. And I’m not a fan of recurring couples but in this case it works well because the relationships develops a little in each book, so it doesn’t get old…

Did you read Ghost TV? Is that the last one in the series or will there be more books after that one?

They are good! I’m in the middle of book 4 so I still haven’t read the whole series, but I’m enjoying it a lot.

Have you read the Petit Mort novellas? Those are the books I’m reading next, actually, I’m reading a whole bunch of m/m novels including a very cool historical novella called By Honor Betrayed by Alex Beecroft…

Hi Brie, great review. I am a huge fan of this series and just stumbled across your review! I am also only through #4, I am trying to wait and savor the series before I read too many. I just reviewed this book too at http://badassbookreviews.com/

I agree with your warning concerning the addictiveness of the series. I really want to try Ms. Price's other books, I am sure they are fantastic.

Oh and Vic's voice makes the books! At least for me. :) Thanks for a great review.

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